Roseburg review. [volume] (Roseburg, Or.) 1885-1920, 1887-05-27
STRIWS SHOW WHICH WY THE
WIND BLOWS

Tho following is written by Rev.
VIM. NJ. Green In Nashville Christian
Advocate He deprecates the tenden-
cy to hierarchy.
'sThe Original Status of the Meth
odist Episcopal Church" is thorough |
ly-digested article which appeared in
the March number of the Southern
Methodist Review, contributed by
Rev. Prof, I. J. Tigert, Of Vanderbilt
University. He gives in terse,
straightforward way the facts bor-
rowed from history, as far as neces-
sary, and 1 have nothing to say direct
II against the article. Why should I
attempt to disprove what he has
proved That would be sheer contrar-
mess; and yet I have somewhat the
feelings of a monkey that has scented
hyena-a disposition to crawl in some
where. My remarks are not to be
understood as opposed to Prof. Tt
eert's conclusions, but / am radically
at variance to certain tendencies that
may come or result. from these con.
clusions. It may be that I do not ex-
actly tYke in the article in its entirety
or it may be that certain views which
| have long entertained concerning
the episcopacy beget an ultra chari-
ness along that particular line of dis
cussion. l have before my minds
eve the name of the dearest Church
on earth-the "Methodist Episcopal
Church South." In her / was Grad
led, and in her l propose to remain
until sin, my brethren or death puts
me out. The name is quadripartite.
To my dim vision "Methodist" is the
Cheops among these pyramids. 1t
opens up the "Twenty-fve Articles,
the General Rules" and rings along
the line of twenty five millions of souls
salvation by faith" The suffiz
"South" is a funny little pyramid that
was kicked up during the slavery ba.
tie Of 1914. It is meaningless now
but we keep it to crafty sectiena
whim. Like tarantula in a bottl
of alcohol, we preserve it as grir
remembrance of the venom that wa'
If our fathers plowed with gophe
why may not wei episcopal" ind
Gates the modus of Church-goverl
ment. 'Methodist" is the gener
name; Episcopal indicates the variet
What is implied by deacon and elder
Simply Church-ofiicers. What
meant by a bishop ? An elder wh
has the oversight of all the churche
Do away with Church-governmen
and these orders and Offices ceAs
Disband the army, and the militai
titles of general, colonel and captai
are obsolete aud void, because vt
cannot, without doing violence to cor
mon sense, dissociate the duties of 6
Office from its name. When the wor
"bishop" passes through my mind
not necessarily think Of regensration
total depravity; I think of Meth
dist preacher who presides over Co
ferences and makes appointment
When I bracket the word Episcopal
Methodist or Church, / simply mean
church with bishopical or episcoE
form of government. The reader W
pardon a short depression: (Soh
times the best parts of a sermon are
the digressionsl | am satisfied tn
the episcopal form of Church-gover
ment is the best and my reasons
the opinion are that it has proved
success, and is scriptural. Of t
twenty-eight Methodist organizations
the world the two largest are epis'
pal. What is called congregation
ism" is the episcopal form moyl
backward. In the episcopal we ha
one preacher directing many others;
the congregational we have many Ii
men attempting to control cne preact
which they seem at loss frequen
how to do. Changes must come,
woe be unto the laymen by whom
change comes. There is no such thi
as an independent church in radi
sense, and a church may be timer:
in practice without an itinerant s
TEN.
Now We switch back on the m
stem. Was Prof. Tigert inclined
he did not do it) to elevate the "El
copal above the "Methodist" : w
will naturally come of this Moth
more than the elevation of the e]
copacy into third order. Let us
Straight out and honestl The El
copal churches Of the world, tax
them as class, are the most given